Music Review: Money Hai To Honey Hai

There was a time when chartbuster music was guaranteed with every Govinda film. It wasn't just a phase; it was a continued journey that Govinda enjoyed all the way from 80's to the 90's where he delivered at least a couple of foot tapping numbers with each of his films. The trend changed though in the 21st century when Govinda took a sabbatical, only to return with popular scores for Bhagam Bhag, Salaam-E-Ishq and Partner, with the last mentioned film being the biggest success, both at theaters as well as the music stands.

Now after a gap of a year, Govinda is returning to the silver screen with Money Hai Toh Honey Hai which is directed by Ganesh Acharya, the man whose moves have made many a Govinda dance numbers popular amongst masses. Do lyricist Sameer and composer duo of Nitin Arora and Sony Chandy create yet another good soundtrack for Kumar Mangat after Sunday and Haal-e-Dil?

Blame it on an ordinary music video due to which the title song Money Hai Toh Honey Hai wasn't really noticed so far. That's because audio-wise this track, which is sung by the composers Nitz 'N' Sony themselves along with Harshdeep Kaur, does make for a funky outing. A good mix of sound is introduced as a part of the song's arrangements, which make for a cool urban outing. It's an underground feel in this short 200 seconds song, which hails money as the driving force behind all the acts.

Outing becomes further cool with 'Awaara Dil', a hip-hop track that is backed by some solid arrangements that make an impact in spite of not too many instruments in use. Yet again, the number has an underground feel to it with the overall impact being quite unique in nature. Primarily an Adnan Sami number, this lazy track has Shruti Pathak, Nitz 'N' Sony, Arya, Bob, Ishq and Shantanu Hudlikar giving him good support. A beach track that features Govinda and Upen Patel among a bevy of beauties, 'Awaara Dil' brings with it a cool-n-funky sound, which can't really be sung along but has to be heard over a round of drinks in a lounge!

Money Hai Toh Honey Haistays consistent in it's feel with 'Chhuriyaan' following next. Yet again, Punjabi flavor is mixed with hip-hop in this track that has Labh Jhanjua and Sunidhi Chauhan coming together. A kind of song, which immediately reminds of many a Pritam, hits in the months gone by, one wonders why is it still hiding in the background. Enabled by some eye pleasing choreography and ample glam quotient, this one would have helped the album grow by now. With just 10 days to go for the film's release, it won't be a bad idea to unleash this foot tapping number on screen!

The rhythm of 'Ta Na Na' is so catchy that it takes only one hearing to get it on your mind for rest of the day. Yet another hip-hop number that has Govinda coming together with Esha Deol on a beach, 'Ta Na Na' is an item number, which has an unlikely combination of Kunal Ganjawala and Rekha Bhardwaj sharing a common platform. While Nitz 'N' Sony along with Earl E D and Arya provide the background vocals, the duo does well to keep the momentum going for yet another funky outing. Now what has taken the last few songs from Money Hai Toh Honey Hai so long to arrive on music channels!

Now this one is an absolute shocker! Just when one had started to warm up with the cool sound of Money Hai Toh Honey Hai, a hardcore 'masala' number, 'Rangeeli Raat' threatens to ruin it all. Further insult to the injury is witnessed with singers like Daler Mehendi and Sunidhi Chauhan lending their vocals to this song, which is plain and simple noise with some really bad singing. In fact in order to bring to fore the image that Govinda carried in the 90's, the other singers - Master Saleem and Arya - come up with some annoying rendition as well which takes this number completely downhill. What a shame for a number, which features the entire cast of the film!

Suraj Jagan reprises his Johnny Gaddaar singing style for 'No Big Deal', which offers a soft rock outing this time around. In fact, one wonders how a number like this would really fit into the mood of Money Hai Toh Honey Hai which was all fun and frolic till this point. A number about winning at all cost, it takes a philosophical route though it is still engaging enough to make for a good background piece for the situation. Also effective is Naveen created 'instrumental version' of the same, 'Hope', which arrives towards the album's end.

Shivamani gets his drumbeats on for 'Dance Master', which is sung by Shaan. A song which comes with a severe 80's hangover, it has it's theme similar to that of the title song as it hails the power of money. With a lukewarm tune not really helping its case and the singing (especially the chorus effect of the title words - 'Dance Master') belonging to the past, this one is a quick skip!

In entirety, Money Hai Toh Honey Hai is not one of your conventional albums that spell chartbuster from day one. In fact, the composers score brownie points where they dare to experiment but at a couple of places where they try to follow the 'masala' route (Rangeeli Raat, Dance Master), results are truly forgettable. Overall, the music here is more experimental in nature, which is a surprise considering the film is a hardcore commercial entertainer. Nitin-Sony create an urban sound that may not find an audience for itself on Day One but would take its own time to grow.